©2003 By Julie S. Rayburn

It's almost like the quest for world peace. It's something everyone says they want, yet very few ever do what it takes to move them in a permanent positive direction. It is the focus of so many people's lives, yet their successes are few and far between. So what am I talking about? Weight loss! How many people do you meet in the course of a day who would not like to lose a few pounds? Not very many, I bet.

So why aren't more people losing weight successfully? With all of the attention on weight loss and the $40 billion spent each year on diet aids, America should be the fittest country on earth! (We're not, in case you were wondering.) Did you know that there are more overweight and obese people today then ever before in history? Did you also know that deaths associated with obesity- related diseases are at an all time high?

This I find interesting; that despite the constant barrage of information with new studies, new super diet pills, and the like, we are still fat. So what is going on?

I can tell you that part of the problem is all of the information and misinformation out there. There are studies that prove one method works, and another study contradicting the previous study. We have various "experts" who cannot seem to agree on even the most basic information. So who do you believe, who do you trust? One quick indicator is if they have a product to sell, (i.e. nutritional supplements, meal replacements) you may want to check into their claims, as well as their motives.

I don't have an M.D., but if there is one topic that I know a lot about, its weight loss. You know the saying, `been there, done that'? When it comes to weight loss, I have been there, done that and am 45 pounds lighter, thank you very much!

What I am about to share with you is not new information. It's common sense. (Now there is something that is missing from the world today!) If you follow the tips I am about to share with you, I can almost guarantee permanent weight loss and a healthier future. Here we go…

Tip #1
Give up the bacon and eggs that you have been eating for breakfast and start your day off with plenty of fresh fruit! Forget about breakfast cereals too. Instead eat bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, watermelon, whatever fruits you feel like having! And don't be concerned about calories! Fill your plate up! Let fruit be all you eat until lunch.

Tip #2
Limit your meat (steaks, chicken, fish, yes, it's a meat!) to 3 meals a week. A lot of people like to eat meat at every meal. I used to be one of them! If you are one of them, you need to do some research of your own to understand how hard that is on your body. Eating that much animal product is good for no one except your doctor and the meat producers!

Tip #3
Increase the amount of salad you are eating. If you normally have a small token salad on the side just to add color to your meal, its time to refocus! Move that small salad to a bigger plate and add to it! Make the salad the center of your meal and watch the pounds drop off! Now remember, adding a bunch of things from the salad bar that are not vegetables is not what we're talking about! Forget the high fat dressings too! Using less dressing and those of a low fat variety will allow you to taste the salad and not just the dressing!

Tip #4
Limit the amount of processed foods. What is processed food you ask? If you didn't find it in the produce section of the grocery store, it is probably a processed food! Anything that requires an ingredient list is probably a processed food. Breakfast cereals and granola bars are advertised as health foods, but in reality they have very little going for them nutritionally. Really start to pay attention to the amount of processed foods that are out there and you will begin to understand why there is an `obesity epidemic' in this country! Take note of the amount you are eating, and how much you are feeding to your children. Your children deserve better than that! Get them eating more of the wholesome foods too!

Tip #5
Increase the amount of veggies you eat, especially raw veggies! If there is a magic food out there for weight loss, fresh fruits and veggies are it! Start eating predominantly fresh fruits and veggies and just watch the pounds melt away!

Tip #6
Limit the amount of dairy products you consume to 3 meals a week. This one can get tricky. The Dairy Association is convinced that you need to be eating dairy every day at every meal whether you want to or not! When I go out and order a garden salad, why does it more often than not come with cheese and bacon on it? Since when did we start growing cheese in a garden? And how is bacon a vegetable? You really have to be paying attention because they will sneak it in anywhere they can!

Tip #7
Get some form of exercise everyday! This is almost a no-brainer. Is there anyone alive who does not know what happens to muscles if we don't use them? Are we all aware that your heart is a muscle? Get out there and get your heart going! If you follow all of the above tips, you are going to have so much extra energy that you are going to need to do something with it anyway, so get out there! 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise 4-5 mornings a week coupled with a good weight training routine will do wonders for you!

It is important to remember that there is no magic pill. Permanent weight loss has to be tied to your lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle will promote good health while an unhealthy lifestyle will produce health problems, excess weight, and potentially deadly diseases. You can make your choice. I have made mine, and life on this side of the fence is pretty great!

Well, that's about it! Follow these seven tips and you will make more progress in one month than you have made all year! You can log onto www.takebackyourhealth.org to find out more great information regarding weight loss, and healthier living!

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Julie Rayburn is a Lifestyle Coach for Vitality Health and Fitness. Visit www.takebackyourhealth.org for great information and programs to help anyone who wants to lose weight and improve their health. Sign up for FREE newsletter, and receive FREE special reports about health and weight loss!